Ukrainian deserters killed one officer and wounded another

One staff officer of the 16th independent motorized infantry brigade of the 58th independent motorized infantry battalion of the Ukrainian army was killed in Avdeevka town, platoon commander was wounded trying to apprehend deserters, the Deputy Operations Commander of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Eduard Basurin informed Donetsk News Agency on August 1st.

Citing intelligence reports, Eduard Basurin said that this incident occurred in Avdeevka town occupied by the Ukrainian army. Three deserters fleeing from the army took with them five assault rifles. This was the second case of desertion from the 58th brigade of the Ukrainian army during that day. Another 10 servicemen left armed forces without a permit near Ocheretino village in the northwest of Avdeevka town.

The officials of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics repeatedly reported low morale, drinking, and hazing in the Ukrainian army units. There is also information about the mass desertion in the ranks of the Ukrainian army. According to the Chief Military Prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoliy Matios, since the beginning of war 16 thousand criminal cases relating to the desertion from the Ukrainian army were opened.